The US embassy in Colombo today announced that the American Centre will remain closed until further noticed. 

This comes in the wake of the shutdown of the US government which has brought the operations of the US state machinery to a standstill. 

"At this time, scheduled passport and visa services at the U.S. Embassy will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits," the Embassy announced in a tweet, this morning.

The US government officially shutdown today for the first time in five years after the Senate rejected a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government running, marking a chaotic end to Donald Trump's first year as president.

The shutdown began at 12:01 am (local time) after a few Republicans joined Democrats in blocking the crucial measure would have provided short-term funding for the Pentagon and other federal agencies. Trump blamed the Democrats for the shutdown which comes exactly a year after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.